Enlisted pilots fought like hellions in air battles in the European and South Pacific theaters against extraordinarily trained enemy aviators and superior aircraft? They showed tenacity, guts, and heart, believing they could stem the tide of tyranny. They crammed their bodies into tiny aircraft and then hurled themselves across the skies to protect America!

NEWSPAPER HEADLINE - 1942
Enlisted Men Become Fighter Pilots!

Only Officers were supposed to be pilots. But despite discrimination, over 2,575 enlisted men are officially "In the books!" as pilots. These men flew under the banner of "Sergeant Pilots." Chuck Yeager, Carroll Shelby, and Walter Beech all started as enlisted men. These heroes are now lovingly referred to as "Flying Peons."

I wrote Tippy as a tribute to Master Gunnery Sergeant C.W. Tippie, whom I had the pleasure and honor of serving alongside. As his crew chief, I flew out of El Toro Air Base in his 1935 DC-3 taildragger aircraft.

Author's Note:
Let's keep alive the histories of these enlisted Sergeant Pilots who served bravely between 1912 and 1945. This is the story of just a few of those unsung heroes. One in particular, Tippy!
(This story is fiction, loosely based on Real Flying Sergeants during WWII!)

What others have said,

*This is a genuine and heartfelt tale about an extraordinary man whose resilience and determination always weighed the odds and led him to do his absolute best, regardless of the circumstances. It is my honor to have read a story about a fictional character who embodied these qualities. I love this book!

*I've read many WWII books, and while this is fiction, it rings true all through.

*It's probably one of the best books I've ever read. Thank you for writing it. I will always remember that you put great care into both the officer and enlisted sides of our Corps.